Bus operator First West of England have announced their local timetable changes for the festive season, and are planning to run as many services as possible this year.
To help people plan their travel arrangements, it has detailed the level of service provision in each area as early as possible.
To communicate the details it has put posters on the buses in Bath, Weston-super-Mare and Wells, and on those services operating between these places.
In Bristol a special guide to Christmas and New Year Services has been published, which is available to pick up on buses, from travel shops and which can also be viewed or downloaded from the company’s website.
The changes:
- In the run up to Christmas buses will operate normal timetables until Christmas Eve;
- On Christmas Eve buses will operate as normal, although Service 39 (Bath – Bristol) will finish earlier than normal.
- Specifically the last bus from Bath will leave at 2300 hours, while the last from Bristol will leave at midnight.
- There will be no buses on Christmas Day.
- On Boxing Day, Sunday services will operate on the three Park and Ride services in Bath, while a special timetable will be running on Service 39 (Bath – Bristol). No other buses will run (outside of Bristol).
- Normal timetables will apply to Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th December, while on Monday 29th, Tuesday 30th December and New Year’s Eve, Saturday timetables will operate in most instances (the exception will be on Service A2, Corsham’s Service 10 and Frome’s Service 30, which will run normal Monday to Friday timetables);
- On New Year’s Day some buses in and around Bath (and Bristol) will run, using special timetables.
- In Bath the following will operate Services 5, 10, 13, 14, 39, 178 and 376.
- On Friday 2nd January, buses will mostly operate Saturday services, but some routes (the same as those which operated between Christmas and New Year) will run normal Monday to Friday schedules.
- All Services will return to normal on 3 January.
Talking about the festive bus provision, managing director of First West of England, James Freeman, said: “Trying to plan Christmas services can be challenging as you need to understand how many people are likely to be travelling, compared with the amount wanting to put their feet up, taking time off from work and staying at home.
“This year we’ll be running more than we ever have before though. That includes some services on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day too.
“Some services will have special timetables – reflecting the fact that we’re not expecting to see the normal volumes of people out and about – or they’ll revert to Saturday schedules, but nonetheless, we’ll be doing what we can to provide links to key destinations.
“We’ve got this information out as soon as possible to help people plan their travel arrangements over the festive period.”
For more information about First West of England, log onto www.firstgroup.com/westofengland.
